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Hmm.
Hmmm...

There's a layer of brown "stuff" covering most of the rockwok and a good bit of the sand in my 16g. Parameters are:
pH: 8.4
No nitrite, 20ppm Nitrate, and ammonia is "safe"
The tank has 20lbs of live rock, 1 royal gramma, 3 margarita snails, and 4 blue-legged hermit crabs.
Can anyone tell me what this stuff is (My guess is algae)? Can anyone tell me what I can do about it?

Thanks!
123

Diatom algae..

How long has the tank been set up? Diatom algae is one of the algae stages that comes with a relatively new tank.

Also, your nitrAtes are a tad high for my liking...water changes would help also

Last edited by DarkRealm Overlord at 18-Jan-2006 20:35

I have this brown gunk, too!! Ugly My tank just finished cycling about 2 weeks ago. How long should I expect the brown algae to continue? I can brush it off but it comes back.

My tank had it for a bit of a time but its just part of teh cycling process. all i did was give it time and i think its caused by not aloght of light i may be wrong dont take my word for it tho.. i think its algae

..........Austin

In the age of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In the age of insanity look towards the mad man to show you the way

Thanks!
The live rock went into the tank Dec. 20.

Is there any way to keep nitrates down long-term, or are water changes the only way?

Thanks again!

P.S. How much nitrate can snails and hermits stand? What about soft corals, feather dusters, and shrimp? Low nitrates dont affect fish, do they? Thanks!

123

Depending on the size of tank a DSB will help with keeping nitrates down...of course not overfeeding/overstocking and water changes also help.

For inverts 10ppm or below is recommended to keep them happy and healthy..and yes, nitrates will take their toll on your fish.

Keep up with the water changes and get the nitrates down..once you get them down to an acceptable level it shouldnt take too much to keep them low once your tank is established and settled in.

Just some extra info...almost all new tanks go through the same algae phases of hair algae, diatom algae, and also cyanobacteria (slime algae). Good water flow/tank turnover and good water quality will make these phases short lived.

Good luck!

My tank has been setup 10 days and my rocks are fuzzy brown lumps. It happens to every tank for awhile.

I have a 6 day old tank at the moment and it is developing green hairs on the rock.

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

That's hair algea. You can add some micro hermits and they will start to eat that.

Dan


Dan

Thanks!